Fitz Hugh Ludlow - The College and The Man

The College and The Man

Fitz Hugh’s college life started at the College of New Jersey (now known as Princeton University) in 1854. There, he joined the Cliosophic Society. When Nassau Hall, the University’s main building, was gutted by an accidental fire in March 1855, Fitz Hugh left Princeton and transferred to Union College in Schenectady, joining the Kappa Alpha Society and living with other members of the fraternity.

Among the classes Ludlow took at Union must have been some intensive courses in medicine. As early as 1857, he writes of having been an anesthesiologist during minor surgery, and being asked by surgeons for his opinions on the actions of various courses of anesthesia.

A class in which Fitz Hugh always got the highest marks was one taught by university president Eliphalet Nott and based on Lord Kames’ Elements of Criticism, although it essentially became a course on the philosophy of Eliphalet Nott. Nott’s philosophy would have an influence on Ludlow, but perhaps more immediately his assertion that “f I had it in my power to direct the making of songs in any country, I could do just as I pleased with the people.”

It may be a testimony to Nott’s feelings toward Ludlow — both toward his philosophy and his writing talent — that he asked Fitz Hugh to write a song for the commencement ceremony of his 1856 class. College legend holds that Ludlow, having finished writing the lyrics to the tune of a drinking song (Sparkling and Bright) late at night, was so unhappy with what he had written that he threw away the manuscript and it would have been lost had not his roommate discovered it and brought it to Rev. Nott’s attention. Song to Old Union became the alma mater, and is sung at commencement to this day.

Ludlow wrote several college songs, two of which were even fifty years later considered the two most popular Union College songs. In The Hasheesh Eater he says that “e who should collect the college carols of our country... would be adding no mean department to the national literature... hey are frequently both excellent poetry and music... hey are always inspiring, always heart-blending, and always, I may add, well sung.”